Tyler Winston was named to the Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list on Tuesday. (AP photo/Tony Avelar)

Emerging star Tyler Winston was one of 55 players named Tuesday to the Fred Biletnikoff Award watch list, handed out annually to the nation’s top wide receiver.

The sophomore from Antelope, the reigning Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West Conference, enters this season expected to be the top playmaker for an offense that last year set a school record for total offense. He caught 58 passes for 858 yards and five touchdowns, all from departed quarterback David Fales. He averaged more than 100 yards receiving per game in each of his eight starts.

Winston has pledged that he wants to get better and see “no drop off” during his upcoming sophomore season. It was his work mostly during repetitions with Joe Gray that made him a standout at last fall’s training camp and led to his promotion to the active roster after Noel Grigsby’s season-ending injury. Gray, a candidate and likely favorite to win the starting quarterback job, often worked on the third-team offense with Winston as a primary target during fall camp.

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*** Catching up on a few other players who were named to watch lists for the College Football Performance Awards (which is a bit harder to track because they don’t put out releases).

Austin Lopez, the junior kicker, and sophomore tight end Billy Freeman were both named to their respective position watch lists. No surprise there since Lopez made the more prestigious Groza watch list and Freeman made the Mackey list.

*** A few other notes: An updated roster is available on the SJSU web site. Cedric Lousi, the defensive lineman who played two years before leaving on a church mission, is back on the team. When I asked Ron Caragher about him in the spring, he indicated that was likely but said he needed to meet with him first. He should be a good addition to a defensive line that’s getting some pretty good depth developed.

Also, I had received word on Twitter about this a short time ago but the roster confirms that SJSU baseball player Mitch Ravizza is going to take a crack at football. He played quarterback for Willow Glen and obviously is an undersized guy at 5-10, 185, but was a good quarterback in high school and might be able to find a way to contribute, at minimum on the scout team for now.

No word yet on Cleveland Wallace’s eligibility, but I’ll try to check in again on that soon. He’s listed on the roster still with no mention of him having to sit out, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.

There are a few names unexpectedly missing from the roster. I’m working to confirm those players actually are no longer on the team (rather than just being a clerical error from the roster update) before I make mention.

***UPDATE***

I checked in on Cleveland Wallace’s status and San Jose State still has not received word regarding his eligibility for this year. The paper work has all been submitted and they simply await a decision. Clearly, they hope to have it by the time camp opens on Aug. 1.

I have confirmed four players that are no longer (at least not currently) on the San Jose State roster. Wide receiver Michael Tate, who would’ve been a redshirt freshman, isn’t currently on the team. I got the impression that could change and he could return, but he’s not with them right now. It’s worth noting that he had not cracked the depth chart at receiver and that depth chart lists three players each at three receiver positions, so essentially Tate was not among the team’s top nine receivers.

Kyle Hart, a sophomore offensive lineman, has decided to leave football to pursue other interests. He was listed as the backup to Jeremiah Kolone at left guard coming out of spring. He had previously played center, but midway through spring camp moved to guard as Doug Blacksill and Keoni Taylor took over backup center duties.

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Michael Okoroikie, who would’ve been a redshirt freshman linebacker, also has left football. He was not on the depth chart coming out of spring.

Finally, senior linebacker Ryan Goforth isn’t currently with the team either. A team spokesman said he couldn’t comment further on Goforth’s status. That sounds like there could be some more to the story. He was listed as one of two backups behind Vince Buhagiar at one of the linebacker positions and would’ve been a relatively experienced hand to have for special teams and backup duty.

I haven’t scanned the entire roster to ensure they are any others missing, but everybody else that was on the post-spring depth chart is listed.

Also, because of some depth issues at linebacker, Isaiah Irving will move from defensive end and be tried out there this fall. Of course, he played outside linebacker in last year’s 3-4 system with some flashes of success. He moved to defensive end in the new 4-3 and despite the fact that he started nine games as a true freshman last year, he failed to crack the post-spring depth chart at end. That clearly speaks to the depth the Spartans have on the defensive line, which is only helped by Lousi’s return.

Derek Muaava isn’t on the roster. Because he missed many games due to injuries, he’s likely done with football.

And the Whittley brothers aren’t listed in the roster. Either they’re not taking summer classes or they aren’t going to SJSU this fall.

Jimmy Durkin

I haven’t checked specifically on Muaava, but the rehab for him has been tough. Not just the knee but getting himself back into shape as well. I think re-establishing a role would’ve been tough. I heard back in spring that the Whittley brothers hadn’t qualified. Maybe they can still find a way to make it here eventually, but not this fall.

Tdmaximus

Jimmy, I’ll never forget Muava’s key interception in the 2011 game at Fresno. He played a key role in a key win that enabled the Spartan’s to have a great 2012 campaign.

BananaSpartan

Thanks Jimmy!
Looks like there will be more changes to the roster in the next few weeks…